SED to move a de-freezing proposal to address staff shortage
Srinagar : The government is considering the de-freezing of half of the General Line Teachers (GLTs) posts that were previously frozen by the State Administrative Council (SAC) in December 2018.
The decision affects 6,576 GLT positions that were put on hold to allocate salaries for Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReTs) teachers. Education Minister Sakina Itoo has instructed the department to propose the de-freezing of 50 percent of these posts, extending the recruitment timeline from 2029 to 2034 to allow for new hires through the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB). In addition to addressing the GLT vacancies, the minister emphasized the urgency of filling other key positions, including Chief Education Officers (CEOs), Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs), Principals, and Head Masters. She set a deadline of July 31, 2025, for filling vacancies under the promotion quota and called for proposals for conducting Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs) to be submitted to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC). The meeting also highlighted the disparity in literacy rates, with female literacy lagging behind male literacy. The minister stressed the need for a focused effort on the education of girls, aiming for a 100 percent pass rate at the High and Higher Secondary levels. Furthermore, the directors of school education were tasked with reviewing unutilized funds from the ‘Beti Anmol’ scheme and ensuring these funds are returned to the government treasury. Concerns were raised regarding the availability of school buildings, as some institutions are operating in rented facilities. The minister directed the directors to prepare proposals for constructing school buildings within the available budget to ensure that all schools have adequate infrastructure. They were also instructed to compile a list of schools lacking buildings and those with insufficient facilities to present to the Project Director of Samagra Shiksha, J&K, for inclusion in the Program Approval Board (PAB) of Samagra Shiksha.
